Lice
Third Time At The Beach
Design by Ciaran Birch
Ciaran Birch is a freelance graphic designer known for his experimental approach to typography. He works with clients in the art, music and entertainment industries and the independent records labels Accidental Meetings and AD93. We spoke to Ciaran about the design direction for ‘Third Time At The Beach’ the second album release by Lice, the experimental rock band from Bristol, UK.
Released on AD93 (2024)
Hello. Please tell us about the brief and commission. Ciaran Birch: I was commissioned by Nic Tasker, the head of label at AD93. I've worked with them in the past and they're always very fun and flexible. Lice hadn't popped up on my radar before, and I wasn't all too familiar with their style, but upon listening I became a fan and realised their mixture of chaotic and melodic styles could translate well visually.
Nic introduced me to a painting by their friend Harry Wyld, which looked fantastic. In terms of graphic style and composition the only restriction was they wanted some kind of obi-strip (a paper strip that loops over one side or folded over the top or bottom of covers) and for Harry’s painting to feature prominently.
How did the music inspire the ideation process?
Ciaran Birch: For me, the music was very exciting. I normally get a lot of jobs from electronic artists so it was nice to have more of a literal narrative tied to a release. Their idea for the release was to communicate a warped coming-of-age story of a child entering the world and their path to individuality: a Bildungsroman, almost. The journey from childhood to adulthood in this instance feels very hypnotic with moments of extreme energy and moments of calm, this dichotomy of emotion was something that felt important to convey.
What did you research when developing ideas for artwork?Ciaran Birch: Initial research and development came in the form of collaged elements; a 'work-in-progess' sleeve design that would reflect the mixture of tones within the music.
However, after chatting with the band it seemed like more of an understated, more 'designed' option would suit the album better and make the front cover really pop.
Please share an insight into the design development.
Ciaran Birch: For the typography, the band were set on their name in the form of a logo, with a simple typeface pairing on the obi-strip and back cover. I used Platelet typeface (by Emigre) for the logo which was positioned inside a cylindrical container, to gain a little bit of nostalgia. I felt that branding the band with some kind of subversive, 'pop' language could be a fun contrast for a band that is hard to pin down. The logo looks like a hand-me-down from the Britpop era, a collaged element to Lice's layered approach.I wanted the rest of the typography to be fairly rudimental. My approach was to make the design feel like a packaged product, and not detract from the amazing front cover image.
How did you develop the design and how does the final artwork reflect the music?
Ciaran Birch: Most of the information was already on the front cover and vinyl labels, which meant that I had a real freedom with the back cover. I wanted to keep the back cover design super minimal, just featuring the artist name and title, which seemed like the right option. This juxtaposition means there is a choice of two personalities on both sides of the cover; you've got the front for an abstract, more artistic vibe and the reverse is for those who prefer a more graphic approach. Similarly to the music, there's a contrast present which gives graphic and image elements a nice balance, without being overly thought-out.Design by Ciaran Birch
Artwork by Harry Wyld
Buy the ‘Third Time At The Beach’ vinyl here